Clothing to aid in swaddling an infant

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing to aid in swaddling an infant while minimizing the risk the infant will overheat or develop hip dysplasia is provided. The apparatus includes a fabric layer able to be secured to the infant and having an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a first arm portion and a second arm portion, a first fastener disposed along an interior portion of the first arm portion, a second fastener disposed along an interior portion of the second arm portion, a third fastener disposed along the first side portion, and a fourth fastener disposed along the second side portion. The first fastener is detachably coupled to the third fastener and the second fastener is detachably coupled to the fourth fastener.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to apparatuses for swaddling infants.

Parents often swaddle their infants when they sleep. This technique mimics the comfort of the womb and enables the infant to stay warm, sleep soundly and for a longer period of time. Currently, to place an infant in a swaddle, a blanket is wrapped around the infant. However, this practice has several risks, particularly if the blanket is wrapped too tight around the infant. This can increase the risk the infant overheats or develops a respiratory infection. Further, if the infant's hips or knees cannot move when wrapped by the blanket, the infant can develop hip dysplasia.

To address these problems, parents loosen the blanket around the infant. However, this often renders the procedure ineffective and/or impractical because the infant can then wiggle his/her arms out of the blanket, thereby interrupting the infant's sleep.

As such, there is a need in the industry for an article of clothing that effectively aids in swaddling an infant, which addresses the limitations of the prior art discussed above.

SUMMARY

An article of clothing for use with an infant and configured to aid in swaddling the infant while minimizing the risk the infant will overheat or develop hip dysplasia is provided. The apparatus comprises a fabric layer configured to be secured to the infant and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a first arm portion and a second arm portion, a first fastener disposed along an interior portion of the first arm portion, a second fastener disposed along an interior portion of the second arm portion, a third fastener disposed along the first side portion, and a fourth fastener disposed along the second side portion, wherein the first fastener is detachably coupled to the third fastener and the second fastener is detachably coupled to the fourth fastener to swaddle the infant.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the article of clothing can be used by itself or in combination with a blanket to swaddle the infant. If the article of clothing is used in combination with a blanket, the blanket does not have to be secured as tightly around the infant, which prevents the occurrence of several health risks discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the figures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the infant article of clothing shown in use in an unsecured configuration;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the infant article of clothing shown in use in a secured configuration via zipper teeth 12;

FIG. 3 depicts a front view of certain embodiments of the infant article of clothing in an unsecured configuration; and

FIG. 4 depicts a front view of certain embodiments of the infant article of clothing in a secured configuration via snap fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIG. 1, clothing 10 is configured for use with operator 20. Clothing 10 may be of any type including, but not limited to, pajamas, one-piece article of clothing, two-piece article of clothing, alternative multiple piece article of clothing, or the like. Clothing 10 may be made from any type of material or combination of materials including, but not limited to, cotton, linen, wool, silk, polyester, nylon, other fabrics, or the like. Operator 20 is typically an infant or baby up to three months of age. However, it shall be appreciated that clothing 10 may be used with babies of any age.

In a preferred embodiment, clothing 10 is a one-piece cotton pajamas comprising an upper portion, lower portion, side portions and arm portions comprising sleeves 22. Sleeves 22 correspond to the left and right arms of operator 20. Zipper teeth 12 are disposed along an interior portion of each sleeve 22 from an armpit region to the cuff of sleeve 22. In addition, zipper teeth 12 are also disposed along each side portion of clothing 10 at a location proximate the armpit region of sleeve 22 and extending along the side portion of the clothing where the torso of operator 20 is located. Zipper handles 18 are slidably mounted to zipper teeth 12 on each side of clothing 10. In particular, each zipper handle 18 is mounted to any portion of zipper teeth 12, either to the teeth disposed along the interior of sleeve 22 or the teeth disposed along the side portion of clothing 10. As depicted in FIG. 2, this allows sleeves 22 to be fastened to the side portions of clothing 10 when zipper handles 18 are used to engage the zipper teeth along sleeves 22 with the zipper teeth on the side portions of clothing 10. It shall be appreciated that any alternative type of fasteners may be used instead including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, lace, pins, snap components, or the like.

As depicted in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the invention, snap fasteners 14 are affixed near the cuffs of sleeves 22 and snap fasteners 16 are affixed to the upper portion of clothing 10. In a preferred embodiment, snap fasteners 14 comprise male snap components and snap fasteners 16 comprise corresponding female snap components, or vice versa. This allows snap fasteners 14 and 16 to engage or disengage with one another. As depicted in FIG. 4, snap fasteners 14 and 16 are shown in an engaged position that enables sleeves 22 to be folded over the chest area of clothing 10. While snap fasteners 16 are shown affixed to the chest area of clothing 10, it is understood that snap fasteners 16 can be affixed to any alternative location on the upper region of clothing 10 extending from the shoulder areas to the hip areas. Although the figures depict a pair of snap fasteners 14 and a pair of snap fasteners 16, it shall be appreciated that any alternative number and/or type of fasteners known in the field may be used instead.

In operation, clothing 10 is secured around operator 20. As depicted in FIG. 2, sleeves 22 can be secured to the side portions of clothing 10 using zipper handles 18 and zipper teeth 12. Alternatively, sleeves 22 may be secured to an upper portion of clothing 10 using snap fasteners 14 and snap fasteners 16 as depicted in FIG. 4. These secured configurations depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4 help aid a user to swaddle operator 20. In one embodiment, operator 20 in either secured position can lie down on a flat surface such as a bed or crib. Alternatively, clothing 10 may be used in conjunction with a blanket to swaddle operator 20. This is advantageous because the blanket does not have to be wrapped tightly around operator 20 when clothing 10 is in a secured position. This prevents operator 20 from suffering any complications associated with a blanket that is too tightly wrapped around the body, including overheating, respiratory infections and hip dysplasia.

It shall be appreciated that the components of clothing 10 described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. This allows the clothing to accommodate any sized infant. It shall be appreciated that the components of clothing 10 described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of clothing for use with an infant and configured to aid in swaddling the infant while minimizing the risk the infant will overheat or develop hip dysplasia, the apparatus comprising: a fabric layer configured to be secured to the infant and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a first arm portion and a second arm portion; a first fastener disposed along an interior portion of the first arm portion; a second fastener disposed along an interior portion of the second arm portion; a third fastener disposed along the first side portion; and a fourth fastener disposed along the second side portion, wherein the first fastener is detachably coupled to the third fastener and the second fastener is detachably coupled to the fourth fastener to swaddle the infant.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first fastener, second fastener, third fastener and fourth fastener comprise zipper components.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 2, further comprising a fifth fastener affixed to an end portion of the first arm portion and a sixth fastener affixed to an end portion of the second arm portion.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 3, further comprising a seventh fastener and an eighth fastener both affixed to the upper portion of the fabric layer, wherein the fifth fastener is configured to detachably couple with the seventh fastener and the sixth fastener is configured to detachably couple with the eighth fastener.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the fifth and sixth fasteners each comprise a male snap component and the seventh and eighth fasteners each comprise a female snap component.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the fifth and sixth fasteners each comprise a female snap component and the seventh and eighth fasteners each comprise a male snap component. 